‘perception is reality, but perception can be wilfully blind’

Photo- courtesy of the New York Times

On November 26, 2008 terror struck Mumbai India killing more than 180 people, including at least 22 foreigners. At the time of this writing, it is uncertain as to the final number of deaths associated with the rampage and who is responsible for the terror. It is with strong inclination that it is from extreme radical Islamist out of Pakistan.

The Mumbai attacks, the worst in a country with a long history of terrorist violence, ended on Saturday when Commandos killed the last Islamist gunmen holed up at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel after a three-day killing rampage.

The savage killing of innocent people across Mumbai has wrought a public outcry for the politicians of India to “wake up” to such atrocities and do something to protect the innocent civilians of India.

Protesters critical of the Indian government’s response to this week’s attacks outside the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel on Sunday.Photo- courtesy of the New York Times

Most Americans reading this post can fully appreciate the feelings pictured above as we have walked in these same shoes. On September 11, 2001 Islamist extremist killed 2,974 people in the attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and the United Airlines Flight 93 that was crashed into a field in Somerset County Pennsylvania. There are another 24 are missing and presumed dead, yet the Lord knows each one.

The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 different countries. Yes, what we experienced in America was the greatest act of terror and violence against innocent people.

What I can not appreciate is that the people of India can be so upset with the killing of innocent people by these Muslim extremist while overlooking the blatant acts of aggression against Christians in their own back yards by the Hindu fundamentalists.

It is estimated that over 250,000 Christians are killed for their faith each year. Millions more are aggressively persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Many of these are beaten, imprisoned, battered and homeless. Source-focus persecution.com

The number of persecuted Christians is on the rise worldwide, according to Professor Thomas Schirrmacher, director of the Religious Liberty Commission of the German Evangelical Alliance.

According to Schirrmacher at least 55,000 Christians are killed each year for religious reasons. Christians in India, Indonesia and Pakistan run the highest risk of losing their lives. Source- John Mark Ministries

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – A representative of the local government in Orissa estimated that more than 500 people died as a consequence of the anti-Christian pogrom launched by Hindu fundamentalists. He said he personally authorized the cremation of at least 200 bodies.

Three more believers were martyred and twelve others were severely wounded in a fresh wave of violence in Orissa, India, on September 30. The latest attacks occurred in villages near Kandhamal, which has been the epicenter of violence against Christians since August 22.

Thousands of Christians, like this woman, were made homeless by attacks led by Hindu extremists in Orissa, India… Gospel for Asia

Where are the protestors we mentioned above? Where is the public out cry and demands on politicians to “wake up” and stop these violent atrocities?

It is true that ones perception is ones reality, but in this case, India’s perception as to these senseless attacks against the Christ and His body is met with nothing more than a ‘blind eye’. This is not unique to India, Pakistan and Indonesia, it is a pervasive blind eye over all of Asia.

Thanks to Gospel for Asia for keeping the Christian community abreast of what our brothers and sisters are enduring for the cause of Christ. Please keep all of the persecuted Body of Christ in your prayers, that He will under gird them by His Spirit as they stand upon His faithful word.

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"Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." Martin Niemoller

Who will speak for those who can't speak for themselves?

“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this’, does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will not He repay each one according to what he has done?”
Proverbs 24:11-12